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NEW BRITAIN -- New Britain Rock Cats manager Jeff Smith thinks the Double-A Eastern League is the best in all of minor league baseball. If he's right, then the premier minor league all-star game is coming to Connecticut.

The Rock Cats will host the Eastern League All-Star Classic on July 10 at New Britain Stadium for the first time in a decade.

The Minnesota Twins affiliate announced Wednesday plans for six days of festivities, beginning with an All-Star FanFest on July 5 and continuing through the game, which will feature top players from the 12 Eastern League teams.

"It's got a big-league event feel," said John Willi, the Rock Cats' president and general manager. "These are the best future baseball players in the world. History shows, if you look at this game and at the Eastern League, you'll see it's true."

The last time New Britain hosted the game in 2003, future major-league stars Kevin Youkilis, Grady Sizemore, Jason Bartlett and Chien-Ming Wang participated. Smith thinks the same caliber of talent will be coming this summer.

"You'll see not only the best baseball players of this (level), but also the best ones coming up to the major leagues," said Smith, who will manage the Eastern Division squad. "A lot of these players will play in the futures game, a lot of these guys will be September call-ups and a lot of these guys will be household names in the future."

Though the season isn't even a month old, Smith said this year's Eastern League has "some of the best talent I've seen in this league in a long time."

He said the all-star game could have special meaning for diehard fans of local teams, all of which have affiliates in the league.

"I think it's one of the better leagues, if not the best league, in minor league baseball, considering the teams you have," Smith said, referring to the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets and Phillies all having teams in the Eastern Division. "There are a lot of high-market teams and teams that have the benefit of putting their best prospects here."

Smith has managed four all-star games in his seven seasons as a minor league manager and said the mix of talent in the Eastern League's version provides for an intriguing dynamic.

"One thing that's really special about Double-A is that you'll see guys who have played two or three years in the big leagues and guys who are No. 1 prospects for these organizations," Smith said. "You mix them together and you get one heck of a game."

The all-star game is the crown jewel of a loaded week, which Willi said will require an enormous amount of preparation.

"It's a lot of work for our staff," Willi said. "It's like putting on another season within a season, but it's an incredible honor. Since we hosted in 2003, each team has raised the bar so the pressure's on. We want to do something that hasn't been done before."

The festivities begin the Friday before the game with an All-Star FanFest at Hartford's Bushnell Park. The free festival will include a vintage baseball exhibition, Wiffle Ball games and a showing of "A League of Their Own."

Also at Bushnell Park, the Rock Cats will host a three-day Wiffle Ball tournament with teams from local businesses playing for charity.

The action shifts to New Britain Stadium on July 9 for the All-Star Celebrity Skills Challenge, when players and local celebrities will compete in various events, including a home run derby.

"It's important to take the all-star activities out into the community," Willi said.

"It's a wholesome, memorable and inclusive experience. We have the ability as a minor league team to be creative and different and do things that have never been done in this market before."

It all culminates with the Wednesday night game, which is set for a 7:05 start.

"As a fan," Smith said, "you can't get much better than what you're going to get in New Britain and Hartford."

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